Chennai To Host India's First Formula 4 Night Street Racing

Chennai is all set to host India's first formula 4 night street racing from the 30th August to September 1. The racing would be in the heart of the city around Island Grounds on a 3.5 KM long stretch near the Marina. Held under two categories - an IPL like Indian Racing League race between franchise teams from different cities and a Formula 4 racing intended for junior drivers. Team owners include Sourav Ganguly and Bollywood star Arjun Kapoor among others. 

The racing would begin by 4 30 PM and would continue for around five hours. Traffic would be stopped during this time. The tickets would be from Rs 299// onwards. The stretch overlooking the Marina beach would have nineteen turns, multiple chicanes, and tricky elevations "keeping both drivers and fans on their toes".

Organised by Racing Promotion Private Limited (RPPL), Tamil Nadu Government has spent around  30 crore to promote this in terms of developing exclusive roads conforming to racing norms. 

Tamil Nadu has been a hub for motor sports for several decades. India's first formula racing driver  Narain Karthikeyan  and Karun Chandok who followed suit are from Tamil Nadu and the state is also home for several car manufacturers. 

On what this would  mean for Tamil Nadu, MEGHANATH REDDY, CEO of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu told NDTV "Look at the global branding. We would become one among the only 14 cities globally that conflict Formula 4 race and one among the five places to hold night street racing. Chennai is rightly poised to conduct this".

Though Madras High Court had permitted conduct of this event last December imposing conditions to comply with noise pollution systems to avoid disturbance to hospitals near by, it could not be held due to